Category: Florence Oregon

The Heceta Head Beach is one of my favorite Oregon Coast beaches. It is actually part of the Heceta Head Lighthouse State Park. It costs $5 to park and enter but it is worth it to me. I go there so much I think I may get a State Park yearly pass just for this park. I love that the beach is more like a cove. It is actually located at the mouth of Cape Creek. You can picnic here, get in the water, walk on the sand, take beautiful pictures and just relax.

If you’re a little more adventurous and like to explore, like I do, you will want to see the Heceta Head Lighthouse. Of course the lighthouse is on top of a cliff which is an excellent viewpoint of the ocean. I have also seen Sea Lions and a whale from this point. The lighthouse is neat and there are volunteers who will give you a free tour between 11 am and 3pm. I must admit that I take the trail for the exercise and the view at the top.

The Heceta Head Trail is part of a 7 mile walk. The trail to the lighthouse is wheelchair accessible and very enjoyable for me. If you want to take a harder walking trail there are trails that go up into the woods. I am not that athletic so I don’t take those trails. I take the trail to the lighthouse and always stop along the way to take pictures. The nice thing about nature is that even if you have been to a place a million times, you never know when you might catch something new on camera. Sometimes the beach has a different look and feel on a rainy day. Sometimes a bird or squirrel runs across the path and I quickly try to get the picture. Sometimes there are flowers in bloom that I didn’t see before. If you get a chance be sure to visit Heceta Head Lighthouse State Park. This park is located a little bit outside of Florence, Oregon. Even the drive on a sunny day is beautiful.

If you happen to be passing through Florence, Oregon while traveling the Oregon Coast, you will see a big bridge. This bridge is known as the Siuslaw River Bridge. As you can probably guess this bridge covers the Siuslaw River on the U.S. Route 101. This bridge was designed by Conde McCullough and built by the Mercer-Fraser Company of Eureka California. This bridge was funded by the Public Works Administration. The bridge opened in 1936.

The length of the bridge is 1,568 feet. It has a 140 foot double-leaf bascule which provides 110 feet horizontal clearance for boat traffic. The bascule section is flanked by two 154 foot reinforced concrete arches identical to the Alsea Bay Bridge. Four Art Deco-style obelisks store the mechanical equipment. There was also a living area for the bridge operator. The total cost to build the bridge was $527,000 which is now equal to $9.4 million as of 2017. This bridge was added to the National Register of Historical places on August 5, 2005.

The Siuslaw River is home to many Chinook Salmon and has become a popular fishing spot. The Siuslaw River Bridge is a beautiful piece of history. The Siuslaw River was named for the Indian tribe that once lived by the river. When in Florence, Oregon you will see this beautiful rive and bridge. There is a small garden with a view for looking out at the Siuslaw River Bridge.